"You're taking too long. You have exactly 10 seconds to choose." The white-haired man said.
"7." the white-haired man started counting.
"Huh? What happened to 10,9 and 8?" Matthew asked, dumbfounded.
"It took three seconds in my mind to complete that sentence." He said leaving everybody present dumbfounded.
'Is that how it works?' Matthew thought.
CLICK
pαпdα Йᴏνê|,сòМ A pistol appeared out of nowhere in the man's hand, with a display screen that displayed a metre ranging from 0 to 10 and the number of bullets below it. As the man pointed the gun at Matthew's head, a small line began to light up as mana was used in the gun and stopped when the metre read 2.5.
"3."
'What? Is he mocking me? How would a gun do any damage to me an AA rank?'
Even after they have been modified to work with mana, guns still are treated as trash. Even those who were unable to awaken their trait tend to use various weapons and attempt to use mana with them.
Guns are made to amplify mana with a bit more destructive power, but that doesn't change people's opinions on them because the limitations are very clear. The destructiveness of a gun has limits, and artifacts with 'ranks,' even a rank-E artifact, have far greater destructive power than a gun.
As a result, people prefer historical weapons over modern ones, trusting in their own abilities rather than magic bullets because they are 'common.' Their limitations can be easily overlooked if they use their artifacts' skills or amplification.
"2."
"1."
'MOVE!' Matthew thought.
BANG
Matthew jerked his head to the right, instinctively avoiding the bullet aimed at his head. He noticed, from the corner of his eye, that a small crater had formed where the bullet had hit.
"Do you know why you are alive?" The man approached Matthew, sat on his stomach, pointed his gun at his head, and asked.
'That.... Bullet could have damaged me if I don't infuse myself with mana armour.' Matthew thought.
'Mana armour' is a naturally developed skill that allows you to create an invisible mana armour around your body. Despite the fact that it is a naturally developed skill, it requires concentration, and only those who are unable to use long range magic skills concentrate on it... Those who are unable to use long range magic are classified as 'warriors.'
Warriors who are strong enough can use long range skills, and the warrior class is common. Warrior, Mage, Support, and Warrior Mage are the available classes. Katline is a Warrior Mage who uses both magic and archery... Mage can use weapons, but it is less effective than that class and costs twice as much mana just to imitate the same skill.
"..... Because I dodged?" Matthew answered questioningly, after a second look at the crater and a brief pause, deciding not to underestimate the power of the gun 'he' is wielding.
"No...." the man shook his head in disapproval.
".... Because I let you dodge it..." he said looking at Matthew dead in the eye.
"..." Matthew didn't want to underestimate his opponent again, so he nodded slightly.
"Now, answer. Why did you call an emergency meeting?" he asked.
"..." Matthew stared at him without talking.
".... You have 3 seconds.... This time I won't miss." He said.
'This crazy basta*d's time! He'll shot instantly!' Matthew thought.
"Because we received an unidentified call warning us that the system would behave strangely and that only a mage could prevent this or people would end up dead! We didn't believe the information at first, but we called an emergency meeting as soon as the system notifications appeared!" Matthew said out loud instantly.
".... Who?" Matthew noticed the man's eyes began to glow golden as he asked with a bit of anger in his tone.
"W-we don't know.... W-we are trying to track the call.." Matthew said fearfully.
".... Hmm.." he hummed and stood back up.
VROOOM
"Eshwar!" Another man with messy dark green hair and a grey cat with sharp facial features riding a bike approached the white-haired man who was pondering and stopped near him.
'Eshwar?!' Matthew realized that the white haired man's name is Eshwar.
"Huh? What happened Henry?" Eshwar asked with a surprised look.
"'He' made a move." The guy named Henry said with a lazy expression.
***
In an unknown location.
In a room filled with monitors, snacks, and drinks in a subterranean facility. A petite woman sat on an armchair, her knees on the seat, her eyes darting across all the monitors as her hands flitting on the keyboard without pausing.
"Oh! Hehehe, 'he' finally started to make a move." Core mumbled happily, her eyes twinkling with stars.
'Our whole mercenary group was bored because he wasn't trying to poke around us.' Core thought.
"Hehehahaha!" Core laughed in delight.
"Gotta deliver the good news to Eshwar." She mumbled.
CLANK
Henry entered the room, scratching his head and dressed in a white t-shirt and grey shorts.
"Hyam.. What're you so happy about?" Henry asked, yawning.
Core jumped out of her chair, jumped on Henry, and hugged him while her legs were locked around his hip.
".... Good news! 'He' started to move!" She said and kissed him without giving him a chance to speak.
"Mmm~ hah.... Really? That's great news! We'll be able to have some fun after a month of boredom." He said and kissed her back.
"Hey, hey! Stop making out in the middle of the door and move it!" Arngrim scratched his stomach as he walked down the stairs to Core's room.
"Che, why're you here? Can't you see we're busy?" Core clicked her tongue and grumbled.
"Yea right. Add my new potion to the black market list, only five available." Arngrim scoffed and placed a volumetric flask containing bright red liquid.
"..... What's that?" Core asked curiously after hopping off from Henry.
"My new invention! It can regenerate any limb from scratch, though it can't regenerate if they are born like that.... Yet!" Arngrim introduced the potion with enthusiasm.
"... Ho! Really.... How much do you want sell each for?" Core asked and jumped back on her armchair.
"Hmm.... Meh, I'll leave it to you, since you are the one managing our funds." Arngrim mumbled lazily and walked out of the room.
'This potion will turn the potion business upside down.... Meh, let's sell each for a price of a mana contract.... Or more.' Core thought with a mischievous grin.
"Poor people..." Henry mumbled and shook his head.
"What?" Core asked as she furrowed her brows at Henry.
"... Nothing." He said.
Henry approached Core, lifted her out of her seat, sat on it, and hugged her from behind.
"I'm just feeling sorry for those who want to buy the potion." Henry said and started to doze off.
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